Fish holder



Dec. 15, 1936. B. F. SMITH ET AL FISH HOLDER Filed June 5, 1935 a 39 h r 8 8 I 2m w J mQ D q I .mH mh \II f a w/ Q 7 P7 W0 21 Z Z wJ W" (/vY/ 0 Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES FISH HOLDER Benjamin F. Smith and Joseph H. De Fee, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,753

1 Claim. (Cl. 43--55) This invention relates to a fish holder for the use of fishermen, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to including a porous, flexible receptacle, receiver or retainer of bag-like form capable of being attached to the Sides or stern of a boat and constituting a well for the keeping of fish, crabs or shrimp alive or fresh, as the case may be.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device for the purpose referred to having a porous, flexible receptacle, receiver or retainer forming a normally open well, foldable and extendible means for respectively closing the well and for maintaining the mouth of the well rigidly extended to enable convenient access thereto and a hanger for detachably connecting the said means to a side or the stern of a boat for anchoring the well in suspended relation with respect to the boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device for the purpose referred to for dispensing with the use of shrimp boxes and fish wells built in boats, consequently eliminating excess weight and providing additional space in the boats.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fish holder for the reception of fish and crabs and including means providing, when desired, for the closing of the device to prevent the escape of the fish or crabs.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly effi'cient in its use, conveniently opened and closed When desired, readily anchored in suspended relation with respect to a support and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts as are hereinafter more specifically described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder with the mouth thereof extended,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in horizontal section and upon an enlarged scale, of the holder with the mouth thereof extended,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, with the mouth of the holder closed,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the frame members disassembled, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5, Figure 1.

The drawing illustrates a holder including a flexible, porous fabric body 2 of bag-like form provided at its upper end with a mouth 3. The body 2 provides a receptacle, receiver or retainer for the fish, shrimp or crabs. The body 2 may be of any desired capacity and it is reinforced throughout its top edges with a binder 4. The mouth end of body 2 is'formed with diametrically opposed depending semi-circular cutouts 4 having their edges enclosed by the binder 4. The latter is secured by stitching 5 to body 2.

Surrounding the periphery of the body 2, at the mouth end of holder I, is a sectional frame formed of a pair of oppositely disposed semicircular sections or members 6, I of metallic material employed for extending the mouth 3 and for closing the latter, as well as reinforcing the open end of body 2. The member 6, at its ends, is provided with outwardly directed right angularly disposed upstanding angle-shaped protuberances 8, each formed of a vertical and a horizontal leg 9, Ill respectively. The leg Ill extends inwardly from the lower portion of the inner side edge of leg 9 and merges into the lower portion of an end of member 6. The free'edge portions I I of the ends of member 6 above the top edges of the legs I0 are curved in a direction rearwardly from said legs. The member I has rounded end edges I2 and cutouts I3 opening at the bottom edges thereof. Each cutout has a rear vertical wall I4, a horizontal base wall I5 and a curved forward wall I6. The curvature of wall I6 is in a direction away from wall I4. The end terminal portions of member 6 extend into and oppose the end terminal portions of the member I. The members 6, I, adjacent their ends, are formed with openings I'I, I8 respectively. An opening I! aligns with an opening I8. Extending through each pair of aligning openings I'I, I8 is a pivot I9 provided with heads 20, 2I for hinging one end of member 6 to an end of member I. Mounted on each pivot is a washer 22. The washers 22 are interposed between the heads 2I and member I.

The members 6, I are formed in proximity to the inner or lower edges with a row of spaced openings 24, 25. Extending through the front and rear sides of body 2, in proximity to mouth 3 and also through the openings 24, 25, are com pling cords 26, 21 respectively, functioning to couple the members 6, 1 circumferentially of body 2 at the mouth end of the latter. The frame provided by members 6, 1 extends from the edge at the month end of body 2.

The pivotally connected members 6, I are capable of swinging in opposite directions relative to each other upon their pivots. The frame formed by members 6, I provides a circumferentially extending reinforcing means on and for the open ends of the body 2; for closing the mouth 3 of the well when the members 6, I are swung towards each other; and for rigidly maintaining the mouth 3 extended when the members 6, I are swung away from each other. When the, body 2 is suspended by a means to be referred to, the mouth 3 is closed by swinging member 1 towards member 6. The protuberances 8 coact with the cutouts I 3 to provide a latch for the purpose of latching the members 6, I when extended relative to each other, whereby the mouth 3 is held in open extended rigid position to facilitate access to the well.

Formed integral with the member 6, centrally of its outer face, are the arms 28 of a horizon.- tally disposed laterally extended yoke 29. Integral with the top edge 30 of the base 31 of yoke 29 is a substantially triangular shaped outwardly extending hanger 32 terminating at its outer end into a depending arm 33 having an enlargement 34 on its outer face. The arm 33 is formed with a screw threaded opening 35 extending from the outer face of enlargement 34 to the inner face of the arm. Threadedly engaging with the wall of opening 35 is a clamping screw 36 which coacts with the base 3| of yoke 29 for anchoring the holder l in depending relation with respect to a support, such support, by way of example, may be a side or the stern of a boat.

The cutouts 4 are arranged below the pivots l9 and provide clearance for the end terminal portions of the members 6, i when these latter are swung from extended to non-extended position to close the mouth of the holder.

The holder fastens to either the side or stern of the boat, and may be moved convenient to reach by means of a thumb screw. Its greatest advantage for keeping fish is the easy manner in which the fish may be placed. in the bag, simply by lifting one side of the closed hinge-like frame. When the bag is closed it is practically impossible for a fish to jump out or escape in any manner.

The device is used for crabs in exactly the same manner. Particularly in southern waters where women do a lot of fishing, and as most women are afraid of crabs, they may open this holder with a minimum of effort, drop the crab in the holder and close the top, never having to put a hand actually on the crab. When you are ready to leave, just free the thumb screw, remove the holder from the water and your catch is ready to carry away, with no worry of the crabs escaping en route.

The device may be used as a container for live bait. When used for keeping shrimp alive when caught, the cast net may be held over the open fish holder with the weighted part thereof inside the holder. When the net is shaken violently, all shrimp will fall into the holder, not having to be out of the water but a few seconds.

The device may also be used for a minnow seine for catching live bait and as a landing not when fish are hooked and put in reach of the boat.

The device may, if desired, be used as a laundry bag. The clamp may be fastened to the inside of your closet door and used as a laundry bag. It is easily opened and when the top is closed it only takes half of the space it does when open.

What we claim is:

A fish holder comprising a porous flexible receptacle of bag-like form having a normally open mouth, a frame secured to, encompassing and extended from the mouth end of the receptacle, said frame being formed of a pair of band-like foldable and extendible sections hinged together at their ends for closing and extending the mouth of the receptacle, said sections being formed at their ends with inherent coacting interengageable means for latching the sections together in extended relation, the said means on one section being disposed at right angles to the said means on the other section, a yoke integral with the outer face of one of said sections, an angleshaped arm integral with the outer face of one of said sections, and means carried by the arm and coacting with the yoke for clamping the holder to and in suspended relation with respect to a support.

BENJAMIN F. SMITH. JOSEPH H. DE FEE. 

